College Operations Team Leader - St. Mary's College

Job Title:   College Operations Team Leader
Department:   Operations Directorate - St. Mary's College 
Grade: Grade 5 
Salary range:  £24,285 - £27,131 per annum           
Working arrangements: Any 5 days from 7, 35 hours per week which may include bank holidays and weekends
 
  
The University

At Durham University we are proud of our people.  A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other.  Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally.  Whether you are at the very start, middle or end of your career, there is a role for you. We believe everyone has their own unique skills to offer.  We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University.  Further information about the University can be found here

The Role and the Department

The Colleges Operations Directorate forms part of the Colleges and Student Experience Division, which is responsible for providing a world class student experience to our diverse student community.  

The Colleges Operations Directorate plays an integral role in providing excellent services and facilities to support the personal development of students. The services provided by the Directorate include; catering, housekeeping, reception, security and maintenance, as well as providing systems for the management of health and safety, and food safety. 

Working as a College Operation Team Leader you will have the opportunity to work with both students and staff on a day-day basis to create an exceptional experience for residents, guests and staff across our many Colleges. If you enjoy Leading teams, working with customers and welcome a job with variety where no two days are the same, this role is for you. 

Working at Durham  

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University: you will also receive access to the following fantastic benefits: 

•    27 Days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 39 days per year.  The University closes between Christmas and New Year. 
•    No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered.  We have parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies.
•    Lots of support for health and wellbeing including discounted membership for our state of the art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.
•    On site nursery is available and children’s clubs in the summer holidays.
•    Family friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, which are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).
•    There is a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally.  There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University.  All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities. 
•    The opportunity to take part in staff volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community
•    Discounts are available via our benefits portal including; money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, the cinema and days out at various attractions. 
•    We offer generous pension schemes. 

Durham University is committed to equality diversity, inclusion and values
Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work.  As a University equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do.  We also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct.  At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. It’s important to us that all of our colleagues are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI.

We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.  If you have taken time out of your career, and you feel it relevant, let us know about it in your application.  If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

What you need to demonstrate when you apply/Person Specification

When you apply it is important that you let us know what skills/experience you have from a similar role and/or what skills/experience you have which would make you right for this role.  Further information about the role and responsibilities is at the end of this job description.  Where a criteria has an asterisk* next to it, it may be given additional weighting when your application is considered.  

Your application should cover the following criteria:

Essential Criteria   

How to apply

To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification above.  Where there are desirable criteria we would also urge you to provide any relevant evidence.  Please don’t forget to check if there is any weighted criteria (see above).

While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview.  

Submitting your application 

We prefer to receive applications online.  We will update you about your application at various points during the process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails 
 
 

What you are required to submit:
•    A CV 
•    A supporting statement which shows examples of how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification  
 
 

Contact details 

If you would like to have a chat or ask any questions about the role, Chris Finnemore would be happy to speak to you. [email protected]

Typical Role Requirements

Service Delivery

• Resolve queries and requests for information and advice and escalate more specialist and complex queries or issues to more experienced team members. 
• Supervise the implementation of changes to service procedures and practice.
• Provide guidance and advice to resolve problems and queries for a broad range of service users. 
• Analyse work activities to ensure the effective and efficient use of capital and consumable equipment and resources.
• Advise others and make recommendations into work processes and procedures for consideration by senior management to improve services.
• Deliver support services to ensure the effective and efficient running of outreach, internal and external activities that enhance the Durham reputation.  
• Monitor feedback and identify service changes to meet service level agreements.
• Identify and expand the service user knowledge base for service desk working and update team members on changes.
• Accurately record information and data and disseminate within internal networks.  
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values. 

Planning and Organising

• Plan and organise own workload and activities for others with or without involvement with other project work streams. 
• Organise and schedule resources, activities and events. 
• Implement and update processes and procedures, including related documentation where appropriate. 

Teamwork and Team Development

• Act as more knowledgeable team member with some oversight and responsibility for team members.
•  Provide advice, guidance and training where necessary to less experienced team members to disseminate and share practice. 
•  Contribute to the ADR process, assisting with the identification of development needs where appropriate. 
• Contribute to collaborative decision making within the team with joint planning and team objectives to meet excellence in the stakeholder experience. 
• Provide feedback to team members about the monitoring and achievement of team objectives and performance expectations. 
• Collaborate within the service team and across other services to ensure the seamless provision of products and services.  

Communication and Networking

• Work collaboratively across the organisation and/or externally with colleagues and stakeholders to deliver a service. 
• Liaise with contacts internally and possibly externally to build links to pass on information for effective working. 
• Contribute to service user engagement, promotion and communication activities, events and presentation with or without team members.  
• Welcome and induct external service providers, contractors and specialists to deliver a range of opportunities, activities and events to enhance the reputation of Durham. 
• Liaise across the organisation to update and exchange key service information to ensure advice given to users is the most up to date and accurate. 
• Work with internal and external partners to deliver cross-functional administrative, business and financial work streams. 
• Any other reasonable duties. 

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement https://www.durham.ac.uk/about-us/governance/information-governance/privacy-notices/privacy-notices/job-applicants/ which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.  

When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.